Paper dispensing or vending machine



A. E. JACOBS PAPER DISPENSING 0R VENDING MACHINE March 19, 1940.

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Patented Mar. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PAPER DISPENSING OR VENDING MACHINE Arthur E. Jacobs, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Safe-Guard, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio Application March 5, 1937, Serial No. 129,270

16 Claims.

This invention comprises a novel machine for dispensing of paper units or sections in sheet form. In its preferred embodiment the inven tion is preferably incorporated in a vending machine structure in that the dispensing instrumentalities are conditioned for operation by coincontrolled mechanism. However, while the practical construction of the invention involves novel cooperation of the coin-controlled lock means for the dispensing mechanism, and such forms a feature of the invention, it is within the purview of the invention that the general mechanism used need not include the coin-controlled devices above referred to. I

In the further carrying out of the invention, it is contemplated that the machine thereof shall be designed especially for dispensing paper sections or units suitable for use as covers for toilet seats to afford sanitary protection. 7

I Now it has been proposed heretofore to dispense paper or like seat covers of the general nature for the purpose of those handled in the operation of my dispensing machine, but such machines as have heretofore been put'into use comprise magazines in which the seat covers or paper sections are folded, or fiat, they being previously cut and disposed in the machine in their folded condition in which they are vended. Machines of this type are of limited capacity beoccupy a very considerable amount of space.

Another disadvantage of these prior art devices is the difficulty in loading the magazine properly so that the folded paper sections are perfectly horizontally arranged therein and donot interfere with the action of the horizontally movable dispensing chute usually employed in such devices. The folded paper sections have furthermore, a tendency to expand slightly me. 40. vertical direction within the magazine, which will obviously interfere with the dispensing operations of the chute. The folded paper sections will also swell when subjected to moist atmosphere with similar disadvantages resulting there 45: from as above already referred to.

In view of the fact that the capacity of the magazine is usually small, a certain amount of folded paper sections must be kept in reserve and the same are usually spoiled and unsanitary.

0. being handled before they are placed in the magazine.

It is therefore the main objective of the present invention to provide a dispensing machine for seat covers or the like which cuts each seat cover individually from a roll of blank supply cause the folded paper sections or seat covers paper in a completely sanitary manner, eliminating entirely any undesired handling of the paper to be dispensed. 'While the arrangement of the supply paper as a continuous sheet in rolled condition permits a considerable increase in dispensing capacity, the dimensions of the machine may be maintained at a minimum, and, especially in view of the fact that the supply paper is wound upon itself, a highly sanitary protection is afforded.

Now, according to {my invention, pursuing the objective of providing a machine that will readily dispense or vend seat covers of the class referred to, it is contemplated to provide in my machine a holder for a roll of paper, from which roll the paper is fed in the dispensing operation. Likewise, certain feeding and cutting instrumentalities are resorted to which act upon the paper, in the operation of dispensing the same, for the purpose of cutting out a section of the paper unit that is to form the seat cover, which section will correspond somewhat in size to the opening of the toilet seat on'which the cover is to be used. The cutting of the said section of the seat cover to provide a suitable opening'therein is effe cted automatically incident to the feeding of the desired paper section from the machine in the dispensing operation. Likewise, other cutting instrumentalities are employed for cutting off the paper section or unit that is to form the seat cover, in a predetermined length,

The invention as last above outlined therefore comprehends different mechanisms of a novel nature for the feeding of the paper through the machine, for the holding of the paper properly whilst the center section of the paper is being cut from the main body, for maintaining the paper in proper position for the final cutting of the paper section or unit from the roll of paper from which it is fed, and coin-controlled instru mentalities for locking and unlocking the feeding means for the paper when the machine is of thevending machine type requiring the deposit of the coin before the machine is rendered capable of delivering a paper section or seat cover of the class described.

The invention also involves novel detail features of construction other than those above referred to, which will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a coin-controlled dispensing or vending machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2.is an end view looking toward Figure 1 from the line 22 and in the direction of the arrows in Figure 1, the machine being mounted upon a wall or other support.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the detachable coin box.

Figure 4 is a rear View of the mechanism of the machine with the casing removed.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the machine with the casing removed and showing the paper roll partially broken away to illustrate certain parts not otherwise visible.

Figure 6 is an end elevation view looking in the direction of the arrows E6 of Figure 4, with interior parts shown in dotted lines.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but looking in the direction of the arrows 'l-l'of Figure 4, and also depicting certain interior parts in dotted lines.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of a supporting plate upon which the rock shaft and detent fingers carried by said rock shaft, are mounted.

Figure 9 is a detail view of the tension fingers and pintle rod supporting the same as em ployed in the construction of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of certain of the guide means for guiding the paper in the process. of dispensing from the machine, certain parts of the cutter mechanism including primarily the cutter that finally severs a section of the paper from the strip feeding from the roll, and certain detent parts that hold the paper in the operation of severing above referred to.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a push lever by which the severing cutter device previously referred to is actuated.

Figure 12 is a rear elevation of the cutter bar frame and cutter mounted thereon.

Figure 13 is a top view of the device shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view of the cutter bar frame and cutter carried thereby as shown in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 is a plan View of the cutter plate and cutter knives carried thereby as laid out in fiat form for purposes of illustration only. The view also shows one of the presser plates that coacts with the paper to push the latter away from the cutter plate and knives adjacent thereto as the feed and cutter roll rotates.

Figure 16 is a sectional view of the feed roll and cutter plate as illustrated in Figure 15, the latter after being assembled on the feed roll. The view also illustrates certain of the paper prcsser plates.

Figure 17 is a plan. view of the seat cover blank or paper section or unit such as will be cut and.

severed from the roll of paper in the machine in the operation of dispensing 0r vending one of these seat covers.

Figure 18 is a vertical sectional view taken through the operating mechanism of the machine and bringing out more clearly the cooperative interlocking arrangement between the shift lever and feed roll; also showing the coin-controlled lock mechanism for the feed roll; and also illustrating the arrangement of the roll of paper from which the seat covers are severed and dispensed and'the manner of guiding the paper through the dispensing slot or opening of the casing.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line l9-I 9: of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2020 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the paper roll as it is mounted upon the tubular shaft support or axis support therefor, and one of the journals which is attached to said axis member or support.

Figure 22 is an end view of the parts shown in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a perspective view of the coin carrier which forms a part of the coin-controlled lock mechanism.

The machine embodying the invention comprises'primarily an outside casing made up large- 1y of a back I, a curved front plate 2, a bottom plate 3, and a cover or lid member 4 pivoted at 5 to the back I, said cover 4 curving downwardly at the front where it meets the upper edge of the curved front plate or wall 2 as shown at 6.

Asseen in Figure 1, which is a front view of the machine, the front plate or wall 2 is provided. with a coin opening or slot 1 into which will be introduced an appropriate coin for enabling tripping of the lock mechanism that normally prevents dispensing or vendition of articles from the machine when the machine is of the vending mechanism type. Just below the coin slot 1 may be provided an opening 8 for purposes of enabling an indicator means signifying the condition of the machine as full or empty in respect to the supply of articles or paper therein, to be used. Since such means may be of any type known to the art, they are not illustrated in detail.

Within the casing comprising the parts previously mentioned is located a frame for supporting the various operating parts of the mechanism of the machine, and this frame generally includes vertical end plates 9 and a front curved cross plate It] which conforms very closely to the curvature of the front Wall or plate 2 of the outside casing, as seen clearly in Figure 18. The curved front plate 10 of the inside frame is rigidly connected with forward rounded extensions of the. vertical frame members or plates 9, and constitutes a rigidifying crosswise web intermediate the parts 9, acting additionally as a partial encasing means within the outer casng of the machine feed and cutter roll mechanism later to be described.

Paper supply and feed devices Reference is made to Figure 18 as showing quite clearly that the supply of paper for making the paper articles or seat covers dispensed by my machine is provided with a special structure of supporting axis, preferably in the form of a tubular shaft or axis member l2, which may be made of cardboard. So that paper roll support ing means of only a special nature may be used for the purposes of my dispensing machine, the hollow axis member I?! is provided with metal tubular journal members It at its opposite ends, these members being shown best in Figures 21 and 22. Each journal member l3 has a slotted inner body dividing said member into a series of tongues I311, the inner extremities of which are slightly bent outwards to provide penetrating prongs I32) which are adapted to inter-engage in the material of the axis member l2 to interlock the journal member therewith in an obvious manner. The outer end of the journal member I3 is peripherally uninterrupted, or continuous.

and when the paper roll H- is to be disposed in the machine, the lid or cover 4 is raised and the roll I I, with its axis member I2 and journal members [3, are placed in position through the opening normally closed by said cover 4. When in position the journal members l3 rest between a pair of horizontally spaced lugs l4 pressed out from the adjacent end frame member 9 of the inner frame structure, and rest upon pointed bearing members it disposed in a plane beneath the lugs I 4 and acting as the primary supporting parts for the roll H. The purpose of using pointed supporting or bearing members l5 which are carried by the frame parts 3 is to prevent the mounting in the casing for use in the machine of a paper roll having wooden or paper axis members such as would usually not work in conjunction with the pointed or supporting bearing members I5.

As seen in Figure 18, the paper, in continuous web form, feeds downwardly from the front portion of the roll II, past a feed and platen roll 56 and a feed and cutter roll H, the paper moving between the parts H5 and I7 and passing therefrom downwardly between a guide plate l8 which is disposed in spaced relation to another guide plate l9, both vertically arranged between the frame members 9 and rigidly attached to the latter in any suitable manner. The lower ends of' the plates it and I9 are substantially coincident with the dispensing opening or slot 20 in the 'bottom plate 3 of the outer casing.

To facilitate the emplacing in position of the paper roll II and the feeding of the paper web therefrom downwardly through the guides l8 and [9, as when replenishing the supply of paper in the machine, it is desirable to move the feed and platen roll I6 rearwardly to afford a free space for passing the paper downward between said roll and the feed and cutter roll IT. For this purpose the roll I6 is mounted in horizontal bearing slots 2! in the frame members 9, the slots 2| receiving the journals 22 of said roll IS. The roll l6 may be shifted horizontally'in the slots 2| in which it is supported, said action being accomplished by employing a pair of actuating levers 23, one on each of the frame members 9. Each lever 23 is pivoted at 24 to its associated part 9, and is bifurcated at its lower end as shown at 25, so as to receive in the bifurcation the adjacent journal member 22. The upper ends of the levers 23 terminate near the top of the members 9 and are adapted to be pushed forwardly by a rocker plate 26 pivoted to the members 9 at 21. The rocker plate has downwardly bent actuating arms 28 that engage the rear edges of the levers 23 and have a camming action thereon when the rocker plate 26 is tilted upwardly by means of a handle member 29.

By raising the cover 4 the handle 29 is accessile and maybe manually elevated, thereby rockng the cam arms 23 of the rocker member 26 in a forward direction causing the lower ends of the levers 23 to be shifted rearwardly and thereby carry in a rearward direction in the slots 2|, the roll and platen It. This provides for movement of the member 56 to give the necessary space enabling the paper from the roll II to be easily fed downwards between the rolls I6 and I1 into and through the guides I8 and I9 and out through the dispensing openings 2!] of the bottom 3 of the main casing.

The feed and cutter roll and platen mechanism There has been described generally already the feed and cutter roll 1'! and the feed and platen roll I 6; The feed and cutter roll I1 is of special construction for the purposes of the invention, and reference is particularly made in this connection to Figures 5, 18, and 19.

For providing the feeding function for the roll I1, it is preferably equipped on its periphery with spaced feeding bands 38 that may be made of soft rubber or any suitable equivalent substance for contact with the paper of the roll II in the feeding operation at the same time that the feed and platen roll I6 contacts with such paper, as seen in Figure 18.

Mounted upon the periphery of the roll I! is a cutter plate, best seen in Figure 15, and designated 3!, said cutter plate being equipped with cutters 32 which are symmetrically curved in the manner shown in Figure 15 in respect to their longitudinal dimensions, corresponding ends of the cutters 32 being very closely adjacent as shown at 33, and other corresponding ends of said cutters being widely separated as shown in Figure 15. The cutter plate 3! is curved to conform with the curvature of the roll I! and is attached tosaid roll I! as by means of screws 34 and an angle lug 35 cooperating with the wider end of the cutter plate. The pointed end of the cutter plate is so curved as to be slightly spaced, as shown at 36, from the roll l1, though it is yieldable relatively to the roll by reason of the spring in the metal from which the plate 3! is made. Adjacent the wider end of the cutter plate 3| and suitably attached to the roll I1 is a spring presser plate 37, the purpose of which is to act on the paper out by the cutters 32 to tend to move the paper off or from the cutting edges of said cutters. The plate 31 is well seen in Figure 5, and a similar presser plate, though one of different dimensions, designated 38, is secured to the outer surface of the cutter plate 3i and is normally spring-tensioned away from the cutter plate so as to perform a function like that of the presser plate 31. The plate 38 is situated in the angle adjacent to which the nearer ends of the cutters 32 are disposed.

The cutting edges of the cutters 32 are adapted to work on the periphery or surface of the combined feeding and platen roll H5, which surface may be madeof brass or any equivalent material and with which surface also coact the feed bands 30 previously referred to.

In the rotation of the cutter and feed roll I], by reason of the engagement of the cutters 32 with the platen surface of the roll It, as the paper from the roll I I is fed downwardly between the members I6 and H, the cutters 32 will cut a middle section of the area of the paper in the manner shown in Figure 17. The dimensions of the inner cut section of paper, which is indicated at 39 in Figure 1'7, will conform somewhat to the size of an opening in a toilet seat, and the section 39 will be so separated from the seat cover unit or section 40 that whenthe latter is cut off of the strip of paper fed from the roll II, a

upper ends in theirrearmost positions by springs 13 23a of somewhat U-form, anchored at their front ends at 231) and attached at their rear ends to studs 230 on the levers.

By having the pointed end of the cutter plate 3| spaced, as at 36 in Figure 16. from the roll H, the accurate cutting of the convergent ends of the cutters 32 of the paper is ensured, even though at the adjacent end portions of the cutters 32 they do not come together but leave a very narrow ligament of the paper, designated 39a in Figure 17, connecting the rear portion of the section 39 to the body of the cover section 40 as long as the paper is passing through the machine and even when it has been dispensed therefrom.

Seat coter or paper section severing mechanism As seen in Figures 18 and 19, the feed and cutter roll I? is supported by an operating shaft 4I equipped with a crank handle 42 at one end thereof. The shaft 4! is operatively connected with the roll IT by means to be hereinafter described, but for the present it will be understood that upon turning of the crank handle 42 the roll I! will be revolved, causing corresponding revolutions of the feed and platen roll I6 and feeding downwardly of the web of paper from the supply roll I I. Near the bottom 3 of the main casing and correspondingly near the lower ends of the frame members 9, but supported by the latter, is a cutter frame comprising the vertical end arms 43 and the crosspiece 44, the latter supporting thereon the cutting knife 45, the cutting edge of which is serrated or waved, as seen best in Figure 4. The knife frame 4344 may be said to be of U-form, therefore, and is rockably supported by a shaft 46 journaled in the frame members 9 at the lower ends thereof.

The roll I! comprises the peripheral body which has previously been referred to as carrying feed band and cutting appliances, an end plate lie, and a partition member or plate IIb, the latter disposed intermediate the ends of the roll IT. The shaft 4i passes snugly through openings in the members Na and Ilb of the roll I7 and carries an actuating pin or member 47 arranged to engage in a slot 48 of the partition or disc IIb inside the roll I'I, whereby movement of the shaft 4I may be transmitted to the roll I':', as will later be more fully set forth.

It being understood that the roll I! is operable by the shaft 4I, it is noted that on the shaft 4I is also mounted an operating cam 49 and said cam is interposed between the end I'Ia of the roll and the adjacent frame member 9. The cam 49 is interlocked to turn with the roll I! by means of a stud 56 projecting from the cam through an opening of similar size in the end IIa. of the roll I"! and by means of projections 5| bent from the plate which forms the cam member 49 and entering small openings in the end I'Ia of the roll I? for completing a proper interlocking of the parts 49 and I1a.

The cam 49 is of irregular form, having a cam periphery curved to gradually extend from a point adjacent the center axis or shaft 4! of the cam to a point remote from said axis and near the periphery of the roll IT as indicated at 49a, whereupon the cam has an abrupt drop or indented slot designated at 49b in Figure 6. The operating edge of the cam 49 is arranged to engage a pin or stud 52 carried by the upper end of an actuating lever 53 of somewhat S-form, see Figure 6. which stud 52 passes through a slot 54 in the adjacent frame member 9 of the machine. The lever 53 is pivoted by means of a knife frame axis shaft previously referred to, constituting the axis for said lever, and the said lever is also of somewhat S-form in side elevation, the lower end of the lever constituting its axis portion. At the intermediate curved portion of the lever 53, the same is provided with an opening 53a engaging the pin 532) on the cutter bar 43, said pin passing through a slot 55 in the lower portion of the frame member 9 and connecting the lever 53 to one of the end arms 43 of the knife frame 4344. The lever 53 being on the outside of the adjacent frame member 9 requires the employment of the pin 53a and slot 55 in order to establish the connection between the lever and the knife frame which is situated at the inner sides of the members 9.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the shaft M and the cam 49 are rotated, the cam portion of the cam 49 engages the stud 52 and rocks the lever 53 rearwardly at its upper portion toward the back I of the casing. Obviously, such movement through the intermediary cf the pin 5317 will tend to force the knife frame 43-44 rearwardly also.

Carried by the shaft 46, see Figure 4, is a coil spring 56 which possesses considerable tension and acts as a motor spring, one end thereof being anchored at 5'! to the shaft 46 and its opposite end being engaged as shown at 58 with an adjacent lug 59 on a kick-off lever 55. The kick-off lever 60 is made up of a plate having spaced bearings 6! receiving the shaft 46, the plate being formed with the lever extension 62 adapted to engage the pin 53b previously referred to as outstanding from the adjacent arm 43 of the knife frame, said pin passing through the slot 55 to connect with the actuating lever 53. The tension of the spring 55 is maintained by a pin 56a mounted within an opening of shaft and bear ing against a crossbar 46b arranged between the frame members 9.

The normal tension of the spring 56 is to maintain a strong spring pressure forwardly upon the kick-off lever to cause the latter, by its lever arm 62, to engage and kick forward the knife frame for the knife 45 when the cam 49 has been revolved sufliciently to permit the stud 52 to pass off the peripheral cam edge of the cam and enter the drop slot or indent 49b of the cam,

The lever is therefore not positively connected to the knife frame but is adapted to force the knife frame outwardly toward the paper strip fed down from the supply roll II with a kick action after the tension of the spring 56 has been increased by the pushing rearwardly of the lever 53 and knife frame 43 under the action of the cam and against the pressure of spring 56. This kickoff action to impart the cutting or severing movement to the knife 45 takes place approximately at the end of a revolution of the feed and cutter roll IT. A stop 64 limits the forward movement of the kick-off lever 60 after it has kicked off and acted upon the knife frame 43-44, which is free to move forwardly slightly beyond the range of movement of the member 62 of lever 65 by the inertia created by the push or kick action given to the knife frame by the member 60 in the above operation.

At the end of the knife frame 43-44 opposite that adjacent to which the spring 56 and the kick-off lever 60 are located, is a spring comprising the horizontal portion 65 and the vertical portion 66, see Figure '7, the part 56 of the spring bearing against a pin 61 standing out from the arm 43 of the knife frame at the right-hand side of the machine. The action of the spring part iifiiis to tend to throw the knife frame rearwardly under relatively light tension action of the spring to maintain the stud 53a. in normal contact with the leverarm 62 of the lever 89. The tension of the spring B5-t6 is not sufficient, however, to prevent the final kicking forwardof the knife 45 by the actionof the kick-off lever Paper tension control mechanism It will be apparent that if the cutting action of the knife 45 is to be efficiently performed, itis desirable to use some means whereby the paper feeding downwardly from the roll I I maybe held or tensioned slightly between the roll I I and the guides I8 and I9 at a point below the knife 45. In other words, it is desirable that slight tautness be maintained on the paper below the knife 45 as well as above it during the cutting action of the knife 45, to provide for clean severing, of the paper in the section or cover member to be dispensed. The instrumentalities for this purpose will now be described.

Reference has been made to the pin Slat the right-hand side ofthe machine and cooperating with the spring parts 656t. This same pin. 61, carried by the right-hand arm of the knife frame 43-44, passes through a slot 68, see Figure '7, in the right-hand frame member 9, the terms right and left as used herein to be used as looking in a direction from the front of the machine. On the outside of the right-hand frame member 9 and connected at one end to the pin 61 is alink 69 that connects. the pin 61, and thus the knife frame 43-44, with a rocker arm III on a rock shaft II. The rock shaft II carries a number of tension fingers I2 located at intervals throughout its length across the entire machine. These tension fingers I2,see Figure 10, are adapted to be rocked from the dotted line position of Figure 7 to the full line position of Figure 10, to thereby shift the fingers I2 into engagement with spring fingers I3 carried by a pintle rod I4, the ends of which are mounted in bearings on the guide plate I8. The fingers I2 are relatively rigid re specting the shaft II and the shaft II has its ends mounted in bearings in the members 9. The'tension fingers I3, however, are light spring fingers supported by the pintle rod I4 on the guide member l8. The guide member I8, as seen in Figure 8, is formed with openings IBa, one for each of the fingers I3, and correspondingly one for each of the actuating fingers I2, so that when the shaft II is rocked by movement of the knife frame 43-44 the relatively rigid fingers 12 will move rearwardly, see Figure 10, to an approximately horizontal position, and, passing through the openings I8a, will bear against the light spring fingers 13 to thereby cause the fingers I3 to press against the wall of the guide plate l9 which is opposite the guide plate I8. When this pressing action takes place, the fingers I3 press against the paper that is pushed betweenmthe. guideslB knife.

and I9 as itpasses down to the dispensing opening 20.

The mechanical operation of moving the fingersIZ to cause them to coact with the fingers I3 and effect contacting of the latter with the paper web passing, down from the roll ,II is timed to take place, just before and while the knife 35 performs its cutting operation. It will be borne in mind that ;the knife'frame 43-44 is actuated from the roll I1, and the parts 72 and I3 are likewise .actuated indirectly from the roll I! through the knife frame, and the actions ofthe cutting and tensioning of the paper are coordinated so that the paper web will be tensioned when the knife 45 .severs the paper unitor section that will form. the seat cover, from the web fed from 11 and the feed and platen roll It. In other words, while the paper is being cut, it is, practically speaking, held taut by the friction of the rolls I6 and I1 above the knife and the pressure between theparts I9 ,and I3 located below the As a simple means for holding the spring fingersls normally out of contact with the paper strip so asnot to interfere with the free downward feed ,of the latter from the rolls I6 and II before -the time for cutting arrives, a spring plate I5 is, fixed to the front side of the guide member I8 near the left end of the latter, and

the upper portion of said plate has a T-shaped part 15a, the ends-of the side arms of which engage beneathtwo ,of the fingers I3. The action of the part I511 is to normally bear outward .member I5 respecting its coaction with the parts I3 and 14..

Coin-controlled lock mechanism Referringnow to Figures 1, 18, 19, and 20 particulaily, it is notable that the coin-controlled devices; by which the feed roll parts are normally prevented from being operated'until a coin is introduced into the machine at the proper place, are located primarily at the right-hand end of the feed and cutter roll ,II. As seen in Figures ,19and 20,the right-hand end of this ,roll II is open, practically speaking, and provides a compartment at the right side of the partition 0r disc IIb within said roll. The said compartment receives a cylindrical extension I6 that projects inwardly from the right-hand frame membert and forms a coin chamber II. Of

.course the extension I6 is stationary with the right-hand frame member 9, and the latter, as

.;seen in Figure 19, is cut away at I8 to provide a semi-circular shaped opening through which.

may slide a semi-circular shaped drawer I9. The drawer I9 is provided with key-actuated lock mechanism designated generally A, with which is useda key 80, and said lock mechanism in- .cludes a'tumbler controlled arm 8i movable to and from a position engaged with the inner side of the frame member 9 at the right of the machine, see Figure 19. Any suitable key-controlled lock mechanism A may be resorted to for enthe roll II, the severance line being below the contacting portions of the feed and cutter roll gaging and disengaging the arm 8l, whereby the drawerlQ will be lockedfromdisplacement or permitted to be removed, the latter to enable the money received in the drawer 19 to be taken away.

I shall now proceed to describe the manner in which the roll l? is locked normally from operation and released by introducing a coin into the coin slot 1 for cooperation with proper mechanism by which unlocking of the roll and dispensing operation of the entire machine may be caused.

At its right-hand end the roll H has a detent flange He provided with a notch ||d therein, the upper wall of the notch as seen in Figure 18 being abrupt and the lower wall curving to the periphery of the flange |'|c. A coin-controlled lock lever 82 is pivoted at 83 above the roll I? and has a lock arm equipped with a lock lug 84. A spring 85 normally engages the lock lug 84 to hold the latter in contact with the flange I10 and to cause the lug to enter the notch |'|d to prevent turning of the roll I! in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 18.

Reverse movement of the forward and cutter roll I? by the crank handle 42, or otherwise, is prevented by means of a lock pawl 86 carried by the curved front wall 2 of the inner supporting frame, said lock pawl coacting with openings 8'! at intervals in the periphery of the roll so as to permit the roll to turn in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 18, but prevent it from being reversely moved by means of the crank handle 42.

Already there has been described the connection of the shaft 4| to the roll I! by means of the pin M which engages in the slot or opening 48 in the partition or disc |'|b which is fixed to the roll ii. The opening or slot 48 in the partition |'|b is of slightly greater area than the pin 41 so that the shaft 4| may be moved by the crank handle 5-2 while the roll I"! is locked by the lock lever 82 and part 84 against any movement. The purpose of this loose connection established by the parts 41 and 48 is to permit of an initial movement of the shaft 4| by the handle 42 to cause the actuation of certain parts receiving a coin, whereby the coin is shifted to unlock the roll I! from the look ing 84 cooperation. The coin moving and actuated parts will now be set forth. In Figure 19 it will be observed that a shift lever 88 is positioned alongside of and in contact with the partition ||b of the roll IT. The shift lever has an axis portion surrounding the shaft and is formed with an opening or slot radial from the axis opening in which the pin 31 previously referred to is disposed. The opening in the axis portion of the shift lever 88 receiving the pin 4"! is of substantially the same size as said pin, as distinguished from the larger opening 48 in the partition ||b and previously described. For interlocking or connecting the shift lever 88 loosely with the partition |'|b, projections 22-9 extend from the partition and pass through curved slots 90 in the shift lever, the slots being longer than the projections 89. It will thus be seen that the lever 88 is capable of turning slightly relatively to the roll I1, and, because the projection 41 snugly engages the slot of the lever receiving same, the initial and subsequent movements of the shaft 4| by the handle 42 will always impart direct and immediate movement to the interlocked lever 88. The lever 88 is equipped with opposed lateral arms 9| seen in section in Figure 18, which arms receive therebetween the inwardly extending coin supporting member 92 of the coin carrier 93,

see Figure 23, which latter is mounted to slide on the periphery of the roll IT. The sliding connection between the carrier 93 and the roll H is established by pins 94 extending from the ends of the carrier 93 and entering slots 95 in the periphery of the roll Normally the coin carrier 93 is held so that the pins 94 are in the left-hand ends of the slots 95 by means of a coil spring 95, see Figure 18, said spring being connected to one of the arms 9| of the shift lever 88.

A coin designated in Figure 18 at 91, when inserted through the coin slot l of the front plate 2 of the casing, will be received by the coin holding member 92 of the carrier 93 and supported by the periphery of the cylindrical extension 16, as shown. This coin is thus supported in a path of movement intersecting an actuating abutment 98 which is carried by the arm 99 of the lock lever 82 for the roll H. The upper wall of the cylindrical extension 76 forming the coin compartment is formed with a coin slot or opening I80 adjacent to the coin-entering opening "I in the casing but laterally spaced from the latter.

With the construction of parts as just described, the action of the handle 42 and shaft 4| in relation to the coin actuated mechanism is as follows:

We will assume that a coin 9'! has been placed in position on the coin carrier 93 through the coin slot 1 as shown in Figure 18. The operatorgrasps the handle 42, not being able to turn the same in a reverse or counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, and must turn it to the right. This clockwise movement of the handle 42 is imparted to the shaft 4| and the first action resulting is that the shift lever 88 is turned slightly by the pin 47 because of the snug fit of said pin in the slot adjacent the periphery of the shift lever. The roll H at this time is stationary and the shift lever rotates to the right, carrying with it the coin carrier 93 and the coin 91 disposed therein. The abutment 98 and cam |U| are in the path of this movement of the coin and are engaged by the coin, the latter acting with ca1n-.

ming effect and forcing downward the abutment so as to actuate the lever 82 in a manner to raise the lock lug 84 out of the notch i'izi. of the flange I 10 of the roll This unlocking of the roll I! by the movement of the lever 82 takes place before the pin 4'! contacts with the right-hand wall of the slot 48 in the partition Hi), and the shifting of the lever 88 of course moves the carrier 93 upon the roll I; and r lively thereto increasing the tension of the spring 96 while the roll i! is stationary. As soon as the coin has acted upon the abutment 88 in the manner stated, it drops through the slot or opening it'll in the cylindrical extension 75 and passes downwards into the coin box 19. In the meantime the roll I? has been released because the lock lug 82 has been raised out of the notch |1rl and is able to travel on the periphery of the flange He. The turning movement of the shaft 4| having initially moved the lever 58 and brought the pin 41 into engagement with the right-hand wall of the slot 48, the continued movement of the shaft by the handle 42 rotates the roll 37 so that the latter may perform its feeding and cutting operation on the strip of paper passing downwardly from the supply roll The shaft 4| is caused to make a complete revolution, such degree of movement causing to be fed from the machine and properly severed, one of the paper sections or seat covers previously described. When said Kill 45 cover from the machine, a coin 9'! is introducedv revolution of the shaft 4|, shifting lever 88,'and roll H, has been completed, the lock lug 84 drops back into the notch llb and prevents another operation or revolution of the roll I! until a fresh coin is placed in the coin carrier.

Of course, when the roll I! is restored to its normal position of Figure 18, after a revolution thereof, and locked, the spring 96 restores the coin carrier 93 to its normal position with the member 92 below or opposite the coin opening 1. During the initial movement of the lever 88 relatively to the roll I1, the slotted portions 90 of the lever move relatively to the projections 89. On the cover 4 of the outer casingis a spring pressure plate I02 that bears on the paper roll II when the cover is closed to thus prevent overrunning of the roll as paper is fed therefrom.

Complete operation of machine Assuming that the machine is empty and it is desired to place in position a roll of paper from which the paper sections or seat covers to be dispensed from the machine are to be made,-the lid 4 is raised, and this renders the handle 29 accessible and it is elevated to rock the member 26 and cam to the left as seen in Figure 18 the upper ends of the levers 23. The roll-of paper II with an axis member l2 and the journal members l3 applied thereto is then dropped into the space between the bearing projections l4 on the members 9 and the journals l3 are supported by the pointed bearing parts [5. The web of paper of the roll H is passed downwardly between the rolls l6 and H, the roll 16 having been shifted rearwardly by the operation of the handle 29.

Or, if desired, the paper web may be fed between the rolls l and I1 before emplacing the roll it in position upon the supporting means therefor. The web of paper from the roll H is at this time fed downwardly through the slot 20 at the bottom 3 of the casing by being passed between the guides I8 and I9. It will be assumed that the roll I! is locked by the normal adjustment of the positions of the parts.

It being desired to vend a paper section or seat through the slot 1 into cooperation with the coin carrier 93. The handle 42 is now turned clockwise as seen in Figure 2, and at once the cam 48 commences to act upon the S lever 53, see Figure 6, to rock the knife frame 43-44 rearwardly as seen in Figure 18, the tension of the spring 56 being increased by the action of one side arm of the knife frame upon the lever 60.

As the knife frame 4344 is moved rearwardly,

preparing the knife 45 for being kicked off to perform its severing function, the paper is feeding down from the roll II between the platen roll l6 and the feed and cutting roll ll. At the same time the paper is being cut by the cutter parts 32 on the cutter roll 11. Additionally, while the knife frame 43--44 is being acted upon through the operation of the cam 49, motion is communicated from said frame to the shaft 1! and actuating fingers 12 for moving the parts 12 up- Wardly toward and into engagement with the spring fingers 13 so that when the pin 52 rides off the cam periphery of the cam 49 into the slot 49?) thereof, the spring fingers 13 will have been caused to engage the paper and at the same time as this takes place the kick-off lever 60, by the power stored. up in the spring 56, will have kicked the knife 45 forwardly, see Figure 18, and thus sever the paper section, which may be used for the seat cover, from the main web of paper of the roll 1 I at a point below the contacting feed and cutting roll I! and feed and platen roll I6.

The operation of the coin 91 in being first shifted by the shift lever 88 and coin carrier 93 to depress the abutment 98 and unlock the roll l1, before said roll starts to move to feed the paper downwards to the spring detents 13 and knife 45, hasalready been described. The shift lever 88 moves first with the coin carrier 93 to rock the lever 82 and raise the lug 84. Then the shaft 4|, which has moved the shift lever 88, picks up the roll I! and rotates the latter to cause the feeding and cutting action of the paper as described. When the coin has passed the abutment 38, it falls down into the coin compartment and coin box 19 through the opening H in the extension 16.

When the roll ll completes a revolution, it is re-locked' by the member 84 of lock lever 82 and a coin 91 must be introduced into the machine to cause a subsequent operation or vendition of a paper section or seat cover as described.

It is to be understood that if desired that the machine be used, not as a vending machine, but as a mere dispensing machine, the coin-controlled mechanism set forth may be omitted.

The resilient mounting of the plate 3| and blades 32 in the vicinity of the pointed portion of plate 3i assures a perfect cutting function of the blades 32 at their ends near the space 33 even though the roll I! and platen roll it are somewhat disaligned with respect to their horizontal axes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

' i. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a support for paper to be dispensed, a feed and cutting device adapted to feed paper through the machine, a platen, a cutter carried by the feed and cutting device and cooperative with said platen to cut the paper within the area thereof as it is fed through the machine, yieldable means carried by the feed and cutting devices and engageable with the paper as it is fed thereby to move the paper away from the cutter after cutting, and means for severing a section of the paper so cut as it is fed from the machine by said device.

2. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, supporting means for a roll of paper carried by said frame, a feed and cutting roll comprising feed and cutting members carried thereby, a platen associated with the feed and cutting roll and cooperating with the cutting means of the latter, and operating means for one of the platen and roll parts for shifting the same away to space said parts and facilitate passage of a paper web therebetween preliminary to feeding operation of the latter.

3. A paper dispensing machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the operating means comprises levers coacting with the'platen, means for moving said levers to shift the platen as stated, and means for restoring the levers to a position in which the platen assumes a position for cooperation with the feed and cutting roll.

4. In a paper dispensing machine, a frame, a support therein for a roll of paper to be dispensed by the machine, feed roll mechanism for feeding paper from the machine, actuating means for said mechanism, a knife movable towards and away from the path of the paper for cutting the paper in a predetermined length from the paper supplied from the said paper roll, and means for for normally tensioning said knife away from the path of said paper, and means for storing energy in said knife and quickly releasing the same in an amount sufdcient to overcome the tension aforesaid, whereby to cause the knife to move towards and sever the paper.

5. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, a support thereon for a roll of paper, feed roll mechanism carried by the frame and comprising a feed and cutting roll, cutting members on the feed roll to cut the paper as it travels, operating means for said feed roll mechanism, a cutting knife pivotally mounted in said frame on an axis displaced from the axis of said feed roll mechanism for cutting the paper in a predetermined length as it is fed from the machine, and connections between the said cutting knife and the operating means for the feed roll mechanism for actuating the knife to cause it to perform its cutting function after the feed roll mechanism has fed a predetermined length of paper beyond said knife.

6. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, a support thereon for a roll of paper, feed roll mechanism carried by the frame and comprising a feed and cutting roll, cutting members on the feed roll to cut the paper as it travels, operating means for said feed roll mechanism, a cutting knife for cutting the paper in a predetermined length as it is fed from the machine, connections between the said cutting knife and the operating means for the feed roll mechanism for actuating the knife to cause it to perform its cutting function after the feed roll mechanism has fed a predetermined length of paper beyond said knife, and paper engaging members operated incident to the operation of the feed roll mechanism for engaging the paper adjacent to the knife and holding the paper such point while the knife acts thereon.

'7. In a paper dispensing machine, in combina tion, a frame, supporting means on the frame for a paper roll from which pape is dispensed through the machine, feed roll mechanism arranged to coact with the paper supplied from said roll, a cutting knife adapted to cut the paper in a predetermined length while the paper is being held at one point by the feed roll mechanism, paper engaging means for holding the paper as the cutting knife is caused to cut the same, connections between the feed roll mechanism and said cutting knife and paper engaging means so that the latter are operated incident to the operation of the feed roll mechanism, and operating means for the feed roll mechanism.

8. A paper dispensing machine as set forth in claim '7, wherein the knife is arranged between the point of engagement with the paper of the feed roll mechanism and the point of engagement with the paper of said paper engaging means, so that the paper is held relatively taut by the feed roll mechanism and said paper engaging means when the knife acts to cut the paper.

9. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, a support, means carried by the frame for a roll of paper from which paper is to be dispensed through the machine, a feed roll mechanism adapted to engage and feed the paper through the machine, operating means for said feed roll mechanism, a movable cutting knife arranged to operate in a plane intersecting the plane of movement of the paper to sever the same in a predetermined length, paper engaging fingers movable into contact with the paper, a guide member for the paper cooperating with said paper engaging fingers so that the latter frictionally engage the paper and hold it temporarily when the fingers are operated, and instrumentalities connecting said paper engaging fingers and the cutting knife with the feed roll mecham'sm for actuating the fingers and the said knife incident to the operation of the feed roll mechanism.

10. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a supporting frame, a paper roll support means carried thereby, feed and cutting roll mechanism carried by said frame and comprising a movable platen and a feed and cutting roll associated with the platen, paper feeding members on the feed and cutting roll coacting with the platen to feed paper between the two rolls, cutting members on the feed and cutti g roll cooperating with the platen to cut paper fed between the two rolls, paper engaging means spaced from the point where the paper roll mechanism engages the paper, means for actuating said paper engaging means from the feed and cutting roll mechanism, and a knife also operated from the feed and cutting roll mechanism and arranged to sever the paper at a predetermined point as it progresses through the machine, said knife operating at a point between the point where the feed and cutting roll mechanism coacts with the paper and the point where the paper engaging means coacts with the paper, and a guide member for the paper cooperating with the paper engaging means.

11. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, a support in said frame for a supply of paper, feed roll mechanism for feeding said paper through the machine, said mechanism comprising a main feed roll, an operating device for said main feed roll, a platen roll, means for shifting the platen roll bodily away from the feed roll, guide means for the paper fed from the feed roll mechanism, paper engaging detent means cooperating with said guide means, connections between the operating means for the main feed roll and said paper engaging detent means to actuate the latter, and a cutting knife operated from the feed roll mechanism and disposed between the point where the main feed and platen rolls cooperate with the paper and the point where the paper engaging detent means engages the paper so as to sever the paper intermediate said parts while it is held therebetween.

12. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a support for supply of paper, feed roll mechanism comprising a main feed roll, a platen roll coacting with said main roll, a guide for the paper, paper engaging members cooperative with the paper to press it against the guide and hold it at such point, devices for actuating said paper engaging members, a shaft for operating the main feed roll, instrumentalities connecting said shaft with said devices that operate the paper engaging members, a cutting knife for severing the paper of a predetermined length, and operating means for cutting rife connected with the shaft of the main feed roil for actuation thereby.

13. A paper dispensing machine as set forth in claim 12, combined with feed bands on the feed roll coacting with the platen roll for feeding action on the paper passing between the rolls, and cutting members applied the periphery of the main feed roll d enacting with the platen roll for cutting the i as it passes between the main and platen rolls.

14. In a paper dispensing machine, in combiactuating connections between the said cam and nation, a frame, a support therein for a supply of paper, a main feed roll, a platen r011 coacting ting knife for severing the paper after it has passed between the feed rolls a certain distance, and actuating connections between the said cam and the cutting knife for operating the latter.

15. In a paper dispensing machine, in combination, a frame, a support therein for a supply of paper, a main feed roll, a platen roll coacting with said feed roll, a shaft supporting the main feed roll, a cam connected with said shaft, a cutting knife for severing the paper after it has passed between the feed rolls a certain distance,

the cutting knife for operating the latter, paper engaging fingers, a guide member spaced from said fingers and adapted to cooperate therewith when the fingers are adapted to press paper against the guide member, and actuating'connections between the said fingers and the said cam whereby operation of the cam incident to movement of the main feed r011 will cause actuation of said paper engaging fingers.

16. A paper roll support means comprising an axis member, journal members of a hard substance applied thereto, and pointed bearings supporting the said journal members.

ARTHUR E. JACOBS. 

